Cargo pants are a top casual solution for a pair of trousers.

When the jeans feel too tight, the black pants too boring and the skirt not right – pull out the cargo pants.

I wore the cargo style pants constantly for a few years, until I didn’t. A little bit like the black jeans, I forgot them and left them behind. From memory they were such a staple in my wardrobe until they tore through the knees and I never replaced them. Silly me, they are a winner.

This morning a reader asked for my help to choose between two styles of pants and my suggestion was these.

Why aren’t these in my wardrobe? That’s what I thought as I scooted around online finding the pairs I thought would work well for her.

Next thought, I had better show you too. :) Today’s entry was not going to be about cargo pants but when I get something fixed in my mind, the rest flies out.

How do you wear your cargo pants?

Wear them with cashmere tees, sweaters and a pair of sneakers or trainers.

Do you trust your instinct?

This philosophy of mine, “better not younger” means trusting my instinct has an important role.

Ageing hopefully means we have learned to follow our instincts and trust them. Whenever I don’t listen to my mind, body and heart I usually regret it. Trusting our instincts is not only a natural response but also a learned one over time. It goes without saying our instinctive reactions should improve with age.

Self-confidence has a lot to do with instinct.

When confidence dips, so does our ability to make good judgements. I equate a loss of self-confidence with an inability to make decisions. The doubts, the fears and the uncertainties seem to come racing to the forefront of my mind when I am not feeling on top of the world and any natural instinct I have will be completely overwhelmed. This will usually result in a poor conclusion and I can hear myself saying, if only I had trusted my instincts.

Trusting our instinct means investing in us. It means believing we have the answers at our fingertips and it also means following through. There is no point being full of bravado without the conviction to back it up.

Our instinct is ours and ours alone; instinct is a gift we can share but not impose on others.

Instinct is a powerful tool and ageing means we have had the time to practice and hone this invaluable skill. How easy it is at times to see the answers and how hard it is to sit back and watch others take an alternative path?

Sometimes we have no explanation for why our instincts lead us in a certain direction but we know we must follow them. This is always a difficult one to explain. Do you know what I mean? The feeling deep within something is right but there is no exact source to pinpoint why – you just know.

Age and the experience have enabled me to trust my instinct and rely on it completely. I rely on my instincts in the smallest day-to-day way and I believe in them implicitly for the bigger picture. I am grateful for them.

The gift of instinct is not one I take for granted.

It is a skill honed over many decades and one to lead into many interesting situations. Instinct stops me from over-thinking and that is both an advantage and a curse. When the mind won’t stop with the gymnastics I reflect on my first thoughts, my initial hunch and 99% of the time there is my answer.

I know I cannot be younger but I am very aware I can be better; I simply must trust my instincts. xv

I am ready for a girl’s night in.

Usually, when I think of a girl’s night in I imagine lots of chat, copious amounts of laughter and beauty treatments. Beauty treatments are more about the camaraderie than the actual results. I remember younger days when ‘the girls’ would get together for a sleepover and part of the fun was slathering us in beauty products and in particular facial masks.

We sat around, covered in thick face creams and waited for a transformation. Little did I know that I was already sitting on a miracle; youthful, beautiful skin that really needed nothing more than simple looking after. Isn’t the benefit of hindsight a luxurious concept?

This weekend it will be only me and the masks, yes, we are old friends and I am in the mood to apply more than one. I find applying and wearing a face-mask very relaxing. It is probably because the treatment makes you slow down and pace yourself, even for 30 minutes.

Do I use a mask as often as I should? No, of course not. When do we ever look after ourselves, as we should? I certainly crave the benefits; the extra nourishing, the highlight and polish they provide to a mature skin.

Girl’s Night In

use the mask at night, this allows for the greatest absorption

apply the face mask to clean skin after cleansing and toning, either use before moisturiser or over a facial oil for super results

masks are a treatment, use regularly between 1-3 times a week, depending on the mask

My latest skincare crush (hardly latest since I have been using these products on and off since 1995) on Darphin is showing positive results – my skin has never felt better. I’m going to generously apply my new jasmine oil, then cover my face with the hydrating mask and luxuriate in it all night long. Two words – can’t wait. xv

We can't talk leopard without talking accessories.

For many years I had the best pair of leopard loafers and they were so good I wore all the skin off on the insides and the heels.

I lost count of the times I had them re-soled and heeled.
They were the perfect shoes because they went with everything.
I would wear my all black, when the mind was too lazy to delve much deeper, add the leopard loafers and a dash of red lipstick and I would be ready for anything.

slide these under the chair any day

We can’t talk leopard without talking accessories.

For many years I had the best pair of leopard loafers and they were so good I wore all the skin off on the insides and the heels. I lost count of the times I had them re-soled and heeled. They were the perfect shoes because they went with everything. I would wear my all black, when the mind was too lazy to delve much deeper, add the leopard loafers and a dash of red lipstick and I would be ready for anything.

This season, my focus has been on a new print dress and a faux jacket.

But what about the shoes? Some of us need new leopard print shoes too! Today I have done a massive online audit to find the best of the print shoes. I am still trying to decide between a pair of mules, a short boot or a loafer.

Leopard print is one of those exotic prints to become our essentials.

I remember thinking when I wrote the Top Ten French Wardrobe Essentials I needed to follow up with a second instalment. Leopard print would be on the top of this list. Like black or cream animal print really does work with everything.

The beauty of a leopard accessory, whether it is a pair of shoes or a scarf, means you can have the look without going all out – if you see what I mean. Not everyone is comfortable wearing a stand out jacket or all over print dress, but a pair of shoes, well they are a whole other conversation. There is no need to be shy with a bootie or a flat. If heels are your things then a block and rounded toe or a pointed stiletto can be a very attractive option.

If this is your first foray with the leopard then I urge you to start at the bottom and work up. For fans of the spot, like me, there is no stopping us. xv

Dame Judi Dench has a luminous face.

She has a face that shouts out beauty from within and a face to make me feel like we are old friends.

We are best friends if you count all the film, television and theatre performances I have watched. Of course I don’t know her at all but she does have a most convincing persona. Perhaps it is her winning smile or the happiness in her eyes but whatever her secret, it is working. She looks like a woman who has grabbed life with both hands and cherished the moments.

Who is to say if this is true as nothing is ever as it appears on the surface? This is simply the impression Judi Dench portrays and one worthy to emulate.

Her acting is wonderful and her many roles diverse but what I notice about Judi Dench is her constancy. She doesn’t really change and I think she has aged with such grace and beauty. Her style stays very true to whom she is and the older Judi has a very similar signature to the younger one.

Her hair has stayed in a short pixie cut. Shades have gone from auburn to fabulous platinum and the layers soft or spiky but in general it’s much the same. She is obviously a woman who knows what she likes and what suits her.

The all over platinum has to be my next “hair” stage and I can’t wait. I am not sure how to make it happen; I don’t want to go back to colouring and there is still much colour in my grey – any tips?

Dame Judi Dench would also seem to be partial to a necklace, especially the fine versions. In many of her photographs she wears a myriad of delicate necklaces in different lengths.

Recently I admired a small monogrammed necklace given to my daughter for her birthday.

Her girlfriend had chosen her an “E” to match the “V” she had given my other daughter earlier in the year. Jokingly I said I didn’t want to be left out. When I arrived home from my travels, this divine girl surprised me with my very own “V” and it’s not even my birthday. One thing I am eternally grateful for are the gorgeous young things who bring so much joy into my life through my children.

Next we are moving on to middle initials – why stop at one? I think Dame Judi would approve. xv